Proposition 30: Gov. Brown's Tax Initiative

Governor Jerry Brown announced the kickoff of the Yes On 30 campaign earlier this summer in Sacramento

Credit Amy Quinton / Capital Public Radio

Election Day is still weeks away, but voting in California actually begins this week as counties send out vote-by-mail ballots. Today, we kick off our look at the 11 statewide measures Californians will decide this fall – and we begin with Governor Jerry Brown’s tax initiative, Proposition 30.

Ever since he returned to the governor’s office, Jerry Brown has had one overarching goal: end the state’s persistent budget deficits by winning voter approval on a tax measure. After failing to reach a deal with legislative Republicans, he turned this year to the biggest staple in the California political playbook.

In May, the governor personally turned in voter signatures to place an initiative on the ballot. Proposition 30 would temporarily raise the sales tax a quarter-cent, and raise income taxes on the wealthiest Californians. Here’s how Brown framed the stakes at a campaign event in August:

“It’s whether the most privileged and blessed people in our state will pay one or two or three percent more for seven years. Or we cut three weeks of school and take a half-a-billion from our colleges.”

That approach angers Prop 30 opponents. This radio ad comes from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association:

“Hey lady! Hand over your purse, or the schools get it!”

President Jon Coupal says the problem isn’t just that the governor is holding schools hostage – it’s issues like the state parks scandal and high-speed rail.

“State government is not a good steward of taxpayer money now, and they have not earned the right to even ask for more money.”

One last part of Prop 30 is often overlooked: It would constitutionally protect money for Governor Brown’s shift of low-level offenders from the state to counties. But the big focus is on the tax increases – and their impact on the state budget.

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It’s often said that Labor Day marks the traditional kickoff to campaign season. And as California voters begin to turn their attention now to the 11 statewide ballot measures this fall, one initiative is by far drawing the most attention.

Proposition 30 is Governor Jerry Brown’s bid to raise the sales and income taxes to help close the state’s festering budget deficit. The governor has a big fundraising advantage – and he’s managed to keep some powerful opponents on the sidelines. Mark DiCamillo runs the non-partisan Field Poll, and he says Prop 30 holds a steady lead.

Governor Jerry Brown says Californians have two choices; vote yes on Proposition 30 in November, or see schools and higher education lose billions of dollars. The Governor kicked off the campaign for his tax initiative in front of a Sacramento high school.

Governor Brown says his tax initiative is needed to stave off deep budget cuts, which could include shortening the school year by three weeks. The November ballot measure would increase sales taxes by a quarter cent for four years and increase taxes for seven years on those who make more than $250,000 dollars annually.

California Governor Jerry Brown acted on almost 1000 bills this legislative session. As Amy Quinton reports from Sacramento, political analysts say the Governor likely had his tax initiative in mind when deciding what to sign into law.

Governor Brown vetoed about 12-percent of the bills that landed on his desk. Kevin Riggs, a former TV reporter who covered the Capitol for years, says Brown was trying to show voters that government can be responsible by vetoing legislation that might have harmed the economy, to give his November tax measure a boost.

Proposition 38 proponent Molly Munger says California Governor Jerry Brown’s tax initiative doesn’t do enough for schools. But she also says she understands if voters cast their ballots for both measures.

Munger’s Proposition 38 would generate about 10 billion dollars annually for schools by taxing all but the poorest Californians. The Governor’s tax initiative, Proposition 30, raises about $6 billion a year primarily by taxing the wealthy, and through a sales tax increase.

A new poll shows more Californians support tax measures on November’s statewide ballot. The poll by the California Business Roundtable and Pepperdine University finds wealthy education advocate Molly Munger’s tax initiative is gaining ground. 45 percent of voters approve of Proposition 38. That’s up from 35 percent in July.

Poll Research Director Chris Condon says the increase might be attributed to the voter’s looking only at the ballot’s label rather than the ballot’s title and summary which were used in the first poll.